Senegal has raised petrol and diesel prices as the government moves to contain the growing cost of fuel subsidies amid continued disruption in global oil markets caused by the conflict in the Middle East.
Effective Saturday, August 15, petrol increased by 70 CFA francs to 990 CFA francs per litre, while diesel rose by 75 CFA francs to 755 CFA francs per litre. Prices of other petroleum products, including cooking gas and fuel used by fishing boats, were left unchanged.
The government said the adjustment restores prices to levels that existed before a reduction introduced in December 2025. Authorities said they had delayed the increase while absorbing much of the international price shock through subsidies.
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According to the government, Senegal has already spent more than 245 billion CFA francs on fuel subsidies since the beginning of 2026.
Maintaining existing pump prices would have required an additional 47 billion CFA francs in a single month, prompting the authorities to pass part of the rising import costs on to consumers.
The move comes as the conflict in the Middle East continues to disrupt oil supplies and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global energy markets.
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The International Energy Agency says the disruption has created the largest supply shock in the history of the global oil market, with energy prices remaining highly volatile.
Senegal’s government described the increase as a partial and measured adjustment, noting that domestic pump prices remain below import costs.
It also said social protection measures would continue to support vulnerable households.
The fuel increase highlights the difficult fiscal choices facing oil-importing African economies as governments balance the need to protect consumers from international price shocks against the rising burden of energy subsidies.
